Qatar
State of QatarDawlat Qatar
traditional monarchyIndependence 3 September 1971 (from UK)
Qatar as the 1996 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 86 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Geography
Middle East, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and | Saudi Arabia
15 fieldsLand useshare of 11,000 sq km
International disputes
- territorial dispute with Bahrain over the Hawar Islands;
- maritime boundary with Bahrain;
- 1965 boundary with Saudi Arabia, renegotiated and revised in 1992, but not official depiction
Terrain
mostly flat and barren desert covered with loose sand and gravel
- lowest point:
- Persian Gulf 0 m
- highest point:
- Qurayn Aba al Bawl 103 m
Environment
- current issues:
- limited natural fresh water resources are increasing dependence on large-scale desalination facilities
- natural hazards:
- haze, dust storms, sandstorms common
- international agreements:
- signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea
People
15 fieldsPer 1,000 population(1996 est.)
Male · female(1996 est.)
Age structure
- 0-14 years:
- 30% (male 82,147; female 83,552)
- 15-64 years:
- 68% (male 263,107; female 109,177)
- 65 years and over:
- 2% (male 6,609; female 3,169) (July 1996 est.)
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 0.96 male(s)/female
- under 15 years:
- 0.98 male(s)/female
- 15-64 years:
- 2.41 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- 2.09 male(s)/female
- all ages:
- 1.8 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Government
Traditional monarchy
20 fieldsName of country
- conventional long form:
- State of Qatar
- conventional short form:
- Qatar
- local long form:
- Dawlat Qatar
- local short form:
- Qatar
note: pronounced gutter
Administrative divisions
- 9 municipalities (baladiyat, singular - baladiyah);
- Ad Dawhah, Al Ghuwayriyah, Al Jumayliyah, Al Khawr, Al Wakrah, Ar Rayyan, Jarayan al Batnah, Ash Shamal, Umm Salal
Legal system
discretionary system of law controlled by the amir, although civil codes are being implemented; Islamic law is significant in personal matters
Executive branch
- chief of state and head of government:
- Amir and Prime Minister HAMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani (since 27 June 1995 when, as crown prince, he ousted his father, Amir KHALIFA bin Hamad Al Thani, in a bloodless coup) is an absolute monarch;
- Deputy Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Khalifa Al Thani (since NA July 1995);
- note - Amir HAMAD who also holds the positions of minister of defense and commander-in-chief of the armed forces, has not yet selected a new crown prince
- cabinet:
- Council of Ministers was appointed by the amir
Advisory Council (Majlis al-Shura)
- the constitution calls for elections for part of this consultative body, but no elections have been held since 1970, when there were partial elections to the body;
- Council members have had their terms extended every four years since;
- seats - (30 total)
International organization participation
ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDB, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador ABD AL-RAHMAN bin Saud bin Fahd Al Thani
- chancery:
- Suite 1180, 600 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037
- telephone:
- [1] (202) 338-0111
US diplomatic representation
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Patrick N. THEROS
- embassy:
- 149 Armed Bin Ali St., Fariq Bin Omran (opposite the television station), Doha
- mailing address:
- P. O. Box 2399, Doha
- telephone:
- [974] 864701 through 864703
Economy
Oil is the backbone of the economy and accounts | for more than 30% of GDP, roughly 75% of export earnings, and 70% of | government revenues.
20 fieldsGDP composition by sector(1993 est.)
Installed generating capacity, 1,520,000 kW
Economic overview
Oil is the backbone of the economy and accounts for more than 30% of GDP, roughly 75% of export earnings, and 70% of government revenues. Proved oil reserves of 3.3 billion barrels should ensure continued output at current levels for about 25 years. Oil has given Qatar a per capita GDP comparable to the leading West European industrial countries.
Production and export of natural gas are becoming increasingly important. Long-term goals feature the development of off-shore petroleum and the diversification of the economy.
Industries
crude oil production and refining, fertilizers, petrochemicals, steel reinforcing bars, cement
Exports
$2.9 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
- commodities:
- petroleum products 75%, steel, fertilizers
- partners:
- Japan 61%, Australia 5%, UAE 4%, Singapore 4% (1994)
Imports
$2 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.)
- commodities:
- machinery and equipment, consumer goods, food, chemicals
- partners:
- Germany 14%, Japan 12%, UK 11%, US 9%, Italy 5% (1994)
Transportation
7 fieldsAirports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right · 3 in all
Networkskm
Merchant marine
- total:
- 19 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 467,447 GRT/771,483 DWT
- ships by type:
- combination ore/oil 2, container 3, cargo 11, oil tanker 3 (1995 est.)
Communications
Army, Navy, Air Force, Public Security
9 fieldsTelephone system
modern system centered in Doha
- domestic:
- NA
- international:
- tropospheric scatter to Bahrain;
- microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia and UAE;
- submarine cable to Bahrain and UAE;
- satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat
Manpower availability
- males age 15-49:
- 220,635
- males fit for military service:
- 115,403
- males reach military age (18) annually:
- 4,115 (1996 est.)
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Qatar.” The World Factbook 1996. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/qatar/1996.